The Fairy Tale of Tehran

There is an old Iranian fairy tale that goes a little something like this

Once, there was a wandering dervish of great piety and faith who was starving and lost in the desert. As he was walking along an old pathway in search of something to eat, he found an empty fruit sack that had been thrown by the road by a previous passer-by. The dervish picked up the sack and swung it over his shoulder while praying loudly, “Thank God for giving a starving man an empty sack of fruit,” as he continued to walk.


The dervish in case you are wondering is Amir who was starved of a hatrick since before he had pubes and on his 100th cap picked up a bag full while praying loudly "thank god I've won on my 100th cap and thank Allah for the match ball".

See fairy tales do come true, even in the harsh and cruel world of F&O. 

It was the start of the summer season but the weather still had a very wintery feel about it. Both sides were keen to start the season well and it was bibs who edged the opening minutes with Brench forcing good saves from Greenwood, Southwell & Baker. Skins were looking the more assured in possession and in Southwell & Greenwood had two obvious match winners.

The first goal came after Chaz dropped a shoulder down the left and crossed for Bahrami's first of the night. "get in" was the cry as wheeled away in delight. The miracle of BACA continued and not long after the Iranian marksman had his and Skins second as he finished first time into the bottom corner.

And the prayers of the starving man were answered for sure when the Iranian carb-loader got on the end of another cross to make it 3-0.

Half-time and the whole of BACA, Falmer and beyond were in shock. The teams turned round and not soon after the restart Beebee stooped to head home at the back post for 3-1.

Bibs had a good spell and were it not for Hunt in goal who made a string of fine saves to deny notably Curry & White.

With bibs pushing forward it gave some of the flair Skins boys too much space. Southwell danced through and finished as the ball trickled home.

But bibs weren't completely done yet. Beebee again volleying home at the back post for 4-2.

Bibs looked like they may pull a miracle of their own, especially after Greenwood hit the post and the luck seem to be going Bibs way. 

In the end they couldn't score the crucial 7th and when Greenwood scored the game was up.

The scoring was completed when the whole of the stadium was calling for Gill to shoot after he had passed up earlier opportunities. This time with an open goal he broke his F&O duck and became the first Columbian on the score sheet for F&O.

MOTM - Amir Bahrami - The Iranian Mick Quinn was on fire as he found himself in the right place at the right time, showing a cool head to finish and intelligent build up play throughout.